Sinclair, Dish Network reach retransmission pact in principle

Sinclair Broadcast Group and the Dish Network have reached a retransmission agreement in principle.

Sinclair Broadcast Group and the Dish Network have reached a retransmission agreement in principle.

The Baltimore Sun

Sinclair Broadcast Group announced Thursday that it has reached a retransmission agreement in principle with the Dish Network and that it has extended the existing pact by two weeks to allow the negotiation of a final contract.

The agreement had been set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.

Retransmission contracts set the fees that cable and satellite TV providers pay broadcast stations to include their signals in channel lineups.

The agreement allows Dish, which has about 14 million customers nationwide, to carry 70 television stations that Sinclair provides service to or owns.

Sinclair owns, operates and programs 74 television stations in 45 markets, including affiliates of the three major networks and Fox 45 in Baltimore.